26 February 2008

Not even three months after 27-year-old David Diaz was found stabbed to the death in the same hotel, the body of 52-year-old Paul Mento was discovered early yesterday afternoon by a cleaning lady in room 221.

This morning we were hearing stabbings, chairs in bathtubs, tied up, duct tape... all the earmarks of a grisly murder, but now it has been determined that Mento’s death was actually a suicide?!

“Mento was found with duct tape over his mouth, which led to initial suspicions that the death had been a homicide. The ME's office has determined that it was in fact a suicide, and that Mento died through asphyxiation caused by the duct tape.

Contrary to initial published reports that the body was found in the bathtub, it was in fact discovered on the bathroom floor up against the door, which was closed, according to police, which indicates that Mento must have been alone.

Police found no blood, no trauma, no signs of struggle, no drugs and no alcohol. “Not a piece of furniture was touched,” according to a police source. ”

According to police Mento first checked into the Gregory on Sunday afternoon but immediately checked out and stayed at his girlfriend’s house on Sunday night.

On Monday morning, he left his girlfriend’s house and told her he was going to work. Instead he checked back into the hotel and killed himself.

Police received a 911 call from the hotel at 12:45 p.m. yesterday. God, those poor cleaning ladies.

Mento was a family man, father to two grown children, Joseph and Diane. He was a graduate of Xaverian High School and St. John’s University and worked as an accountant for Citibank after previously working as an accountant for the Associated Press. His son Joseph is part owner of the Aura on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge. Mento’s wife had passed away in 1995.

I am so sad to hear of Pauly's sudden death. I had known him for many years. He truly was one of the nicest people you would ever meet. Always seemed happy and had more friends than you could imagine. My heart grieves for him and my thoughts and prayers go out to his children, sister, girlfriend and rest of the family.